Ryan Madson is inching closer to being the Angels' closer – but not too close.The 32-year-old right-hander, signed to a $3.5-million, incentive-laden deal in the offseason, threw off a mound for the first time in over a month Monday and reported no immediate pain in his surgically repaired right elbow.

Soreness determinations would have to wait, but Madson didn't anticipate any. He threw 20 pitches, all "smooth" fastballs, at what he said was about "50 percent" strength."The ball was coming out of his hand very well," said John Hester, who caught the session. "He hit the target time after time."Madson underwent Tommy John surgery last April and was on track to appear in games by this time until he suffered a setback during his fourth bullpen session in early February. That pushed everything back considerably.Madson has said he would need about eight bullpen sessions before he felt ready to appear in a game situation, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia cautioned against "chewing off that much time" this early in the spring.Seven more bullpen sessions would likely push his return back past the conclusion of Cactus League games March 27.